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SECOND HAND

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SECOND HAND

© 2012 Second Hand

All rights reserved.

Printed in Canada

Publication Design by Jacqueline Shaw

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4 AN INTRODUCTION TO THRIFTING

10#THRIFTING

12THE EVENING USED

the representation of second hand goods on television

14(PREVIOUSLY) LOVED

24 REVIEWS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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an introduction to T H R I F T I N G“Thrifting is the best. Play your cards right and you can look

like you just dropped $500 on your outfit at Urban Outfitters”

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WHAT IS THRIFTING

WHY THRIFT

Thrifting is used to describe the act of buying second-hand goods mainly from thrift stores and charity stores (though sometimes it is also applied to flea markets and other places where second hand goods are sold). The word originates from the word “Thrift” which is to use one’s money and other resources in a careful and non-imprudent way.

Thifting is a great way to build up a wardrobe. There are great finds from so many different eras and trends of fashion.

Thrifting extends the life and use of an item. The goods bought second hand are reused and recycled (and many times upcycled), this makes sure that many goods to not end up in landfills.

Thrifting is not only affordable. Everyone enjoys a few (or many) pennies saved. Finding a shirt for $4 that is similar to one you saw for $40 is nothing short of a thrill (as well as a bragging right).

Thrifting is fun. It’s all the excitement of a treasure hunt, find one-of-a-kind pieces of clothing, furniture and other interesting objects.

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THRIFTING TIPSA D V I C E F R O M A V I D T H R I F T E R S

J A C Q U E L I N E S H A W

Go in open minded, but try to stay specific. Don’t be too specific on what you want to find, you’ll surely be disappointed. Remember you’re looking for a new precious item, what ever that may be. You do though want to try and keep in mind certain items you’re searching for; a new sweater, a pair of boots, or something similar to that button up shirt you saw a week ago at Aritzia. Keeping yourself open minded will save you from being disappointed, keeping yourself specific will save you from becoming a hoarder.

Dress properly and dress comfortably. As with everything in life you must dress appropriately. I usually wear items that I can try things on over, or are easy and quick change in and out of in changing rooms (remember though not all stores have these). As for comfort thrifting can take a lot of time to find the best bargains and best things, you don’t want your rummaging cut short by tired feet or irritating clothing.

Shop in the proper places. Try not to shop in busy areas. The stores in cities, areas frequented by university and college students, trendy taste makers and pickers for vintage stores tend to be picked through and the finds far and few in between. The best areas have large senior populations (ie. Really great old stuff that has been hidden away in closets for years). Also smaller towns and the suburbs where less population means less competition (and less trendy people who are hip to the thrift) are optimal areas for thrift.

Keep it in context. The eclectic mix of items in a thrift store all placed next to each other are always going to look terrible. Single out items that catch your eye and look at them by themselves, they’ll already look better. Don’t be afraid to D.I.Y. Many thrifted finds are just off of what you want, don’t be afraid to take them home and change them. That chair with the perfect shape for $15 but the wrong upholstery; buy some fabric to cover it. The awesome t-shirt that’s three sizes to big, cut it up, modify it into something to does fit.

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Look at everything.

Comb the whole store. Go during the week, in morning if you can.

Crowded thrift stores are never fruitful. Pick up anything you see that

looks even remotely nice and carry it around until you either try it on or

decide it’s awful. You can always put it down, but if someone else snags it,

you’re out of luck.

Don’t pay too much attention to the sizes.

A 70s ‘size 10’ and a 2010 ‘size 4’ could well be the same size.

Buy it right now.

If you really like something, or it’s really cool for someone you know, or

it’s the most awful thing you’ve ever seen and you just have to own it, buy

it. Too many times I’ve thought “Oh, it’ll be here next time; I’m already

buying too many things”, only to find it gone when I return; it’s terrible.

You must be cunning and stay slightly ahead of trends.

When thrift store old ladies hear something is trendy, they’ll mark it right

up. Take velvet, for example: Velvet used to be priced the same as cotton

‘til the old ladies heard it was on trend. Now they’re trying to sell even

velour tracksuits for $15!

Thrifting is the best.

Play your cards right and you can look like you just dropped $500 on your

outfit at Urban Outfitters when you really spent ten bucks. You can also

stock your cool home library with sweet out of print books on the cheap.

M E G H A N H U N T E R

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# T H R I F T I N GA great thrift score always brings a sense of pride. With the advent of Instagram

sharing and a little friendly boasting of thrift finds has never been easier.

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FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Setting up new sitting area • Thrift items from today • brownie hawkeye • #thrifting find from yesterday • The thrifting gods were smiling down on us today • #thrifting #garagesale • pyrex • Thrifted + Topshop • So many bow ties • Number one hip and cool vintage car trunk • Look what I got today (it’s a teapot)

INSTAGRAM USERS:

jacquienicole kendallgschiel

kd1x0n meghanastley

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Thrifting, antiquing and garage sale rummaging have caught the attention of a new generation, and it’s not just your grandmother’s hunting ground anymore.

The hunt for and accumulation of second hand and used goods has spiked in popularity in recent years amongst a young generation that is the prime target and participant in mass consumer culture, and in true consumerist fashion, the media is responsible.

Ransacking thrift stores and looking buying second hand is nothing new, however, the enthusiasm and openness shown by a growing number of Generation Y to leave the malls behind and switch to the discount racks is something that is relatively new.

This form of ‘anti-consumerism’ can be attributed to a changing perception of purchasing and owning used goods and on the rise in popularity of reality television shows focusing on the hunt for and appraisal of those goods.

Auction Hunters, Auction Kings, Pawn Stars, Storage Wars, American Pickers, Canadian Pickers, Oddities, take your pick, they’re all examples of how the concept of second hand goods have become very profitable when represented in the media. However, the concept itself is not new, what is new is the way that it is presented.

T H E E V E N I N G U S E DTHE REPRESENTATION OF SECOND HAND GOODS ON TELEVISION

K E N D A L L G S C H I E L

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Antiques Roadshow had its debut in 1979 and has been filling daytime television slots with appraisals of items from all over England for 34 seasons, and has since been adapted for various markets around the world. To really understand the phenomenon of modern reality television with the same subject matter, one must recognize the changes between Antiques Roadshow and what it has now evolved into in regards to the many antique and pawn shows currently on the air.

Change number one: They’re sexier. This is of course debatable in the literal sense, but when thinking of the term ‘sexy’ in a way that means more ‘interesting, exciting and relatable’ than yes, those highlighted in modern reality television shows such as Storage Wars and Pawn Stars are considered sexy. The added story line in the episodes along with discoveries and appraisals of second hand objects, provide another more relatable, blue-collar dimension to a once prim and proper genre of television.

Change number two: They’re grosser. Kids these days like blood, guts and anything that makes your stomach turn. Gone are the days of watching candy dishes get appraised for sixty minutes. The objects in modern reality shows are darker and, of course, more engaging. Shows such as Oddities, Deals from the Dark Side, and Treasure Trader have all embraced this approach. Goodbye antique vases and crystal, hello two-headed cow taxidermy and vintage urethroscopes.

Change number three: They’re selling the picker’s dream. Shows such as American Pickers (and it's Canadian counterpart Canadian Pickers) and Storage Wars play into the ‘American Dream’ of thrifting and garage sale hunting. They play into our belief that one day we will find that treasure sitting in an alley, or in the trash, or in that old abandoned barn in our back yard, and we’re going to hit the jackpot. We no longer are destined to be treasure-less for the rest of our lives if we don’t have antique-collecting grandparents. All we have to do is rummage through a few dumpsters and a few 99-cent bins, and we can make our own fortune, dammit.

“Gone are the days of watching candy dishes get appraised for sixty minutes”

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Second hand objects can hold much meaning to someone. Be it a great thrift find or a sentimental object passed down from friends and family.

This is a collection of people and their items which have been and are loved

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(PREVIOUSLY)

L O V E D

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K E N D A L L

“I wasn't too open to the idea of thrifting at first. The thought of wearing someone else's clothes that they probably died in didn't sound too appealing to me. Then I realized that I could find the exact same and, in most cases better clothes, than I could in malls and stores for one fiftieth of the price. Suddenly wearing a dead woman's clothes didn't seem so bad anymore”

Woven Loafers from MCC SurreySide Bag from Beacon Community Thrift Store

Black Cape from Salvation Army on 4th and Burrard, Vancouver

KENDALL IS WEARING

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E M A N U E L

“My mom always told me “it’s all in how you carry it”. The greatest thing about thrifting is how you can make an item your own. Who knows how many of that one jacket is left in the world? It was someone’s once and you might be wearing it completely differently—it’s fascinating, really. This jacket could be what some old Singaporean woman wore while she gardened, who knows? Now it’s my fave.”

Dusty Rose Leather Jacket from Singapore

EMANUEL IS WEARING

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J A N I N E

“Why do I love thrifting? Let me tell you the reasons. First, there is no better feeling for me than finding an amazing item of clothing in a thrift store, especially when it fits perfectly. When something fits perfectly, especially when it’s a jacket or shoes, you know all the stars have aligned and this moment was made to happen. Secondly, thrifting is affordable for me and my budget being a student and hard up for cash. Thirdly, and probably most importantly, you can always find something that is unique and special Something that is not found on the rack somewhere in 5 different colors and in 4 different sizes. Thrifting is awesome.”

Yellow Overcoat from Salvation Army 4th ave and Burrard, Vancouver Red Knit Top from Medicine Hat Value Village

Necklace from “The Post” Thrift Store, Medicine Hat

JANINE IS WEARING

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J E A N

“I need my clothing to be functional, and I want clothing to be amusing (also, cheap please.) On top of being environmentally and financially friendly, thrifting lets me find clothing that I’m excited about sharing. It’s great when clothing inspires laughter and love. I heart thrifting.”

Vintage HBC Blanket Coat Good Times T-Shirt signed by Jimmie “J.J.” Walker

“Perfectly Fitting” Black Shorts

JEAN IS WEARING

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R E V I E W SFinding good thirft stores is hard, but there are a few second hand stores within or close to Vancouver that

have caught our attention.

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The MMC thrift on Fraiser and 43rd is a bit further out of the way than many of the other thriftstores which tend to gather younger customers in the city. MCC is a great all around thrift store, I’ve gathered many great finds from housewares, to clothes, books and even furniture. This store isn’t very large so it makes for a great quick thrifting trip, but it is sizable enough that you could spend an hour or so going through everything to find something that’s just right. BONUS TIP: Be sure to check what coloured tags are on sale. Every week a different colour will be 50% off. A couple times a year MCC will hold a tag sale while multiple tag colours become the special, these are prime days to get great finds for super cheap.

The Salvation Army on Kingsway and East 12th avenue is in a location that I would usually tend to avoid while thrifting. Right in the heart of the up and coming trendy neigh-bourhood of Mt. Pleasant this thrift store tends to be fairly picked through. What makes this store notable though is the usually large and eclectic furniture selection and the bargain basement. If you don’t mind spending the time to dig through bins of miscellaneous items the bargain basement is truly the goldmine of this thrift store.

BONUS TIP: If you’re into rejected vinyl records on the cheap, in the basement on Saturdays records are a mere 50cents a piece, though it may take some time to find something great.

S A LV AT I O N A R M Y o n K I N G S W AY a n d E 1 2 t h M C C o n F R A I S E R a n d E 4 3 r d

IN VANCOUVER

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Vancouver Flea Market is a great place for a rainy day. There are many booths selling second hand items, with each booth being a mix of many items in itself. Though costing about $1 for admission the Vancouver Flea Market is worth that loonie to just look around. Keep in mind that flea market vendors tend to be more specialized in what they sell, so the prices are usually more expensive than a thrift store (but still cheaper than many vintage stores in town)

This is not a place to go for a quick peruse in hopes of finding exactly what you want. Flea markets tend to be treasure troves of interesting finds. Spend sometime here and enjoy the sights, even if you don’t leave with anything you’ve sure to have seen something of interest.

V A N C O U V E R F L E A M A R K E T

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If you’re taking a day trip (or any trip) over to Victoria, Sidney is a thrifter’s dream stop. A small town just ten minutes from Swartz Bay ferry terminal Sidney is by large a retirement communi-ty with a thrift store on almost every block. Beacon Community Thrift on Third Street in Sidney is the flag ship for three stores in the town. Beacon Community Thrift has a great selection of books and clothing, where the Annex next door sells the housewares and trinkets. Sidney thrift stores are especially excellent for those thrifters who’s style could be described as “old lady/old man chic”.

Give yourself at least a quick half hour to look though this great small town thrift store.

Though Value Villages tend to be more over-priced for thrift stores the Value Village in Whalley has never disappointed. The reason this Value Village tends to be successful in provid-ing great thrift finds could be due in part to it’s location. The store location is in a rougher part of Vancouver’s suburban city of Surrey and is not quite easily accessible via transit, but if you wish to brave a rough part of town, or have a car this Value Village tends to not disappoint. Also in the area there is another MCC thriftstore (though smaller than Vancouver’s) and if you are driving there are many other good thrift stores with in fifteen minute drive of the Value Village.

V A L U E V I L L A G E i n W H A L L E Y, S U R R E Y B E A C O N C O M M U N I T Y T H R I F T i n S I D N E Y, B . C .

OUTSIDE of VANCOUVER

W R I T I N G C O N T R I B U T O R S

P R I N T E D AT

B O U N D AT

S P E C I A L T H A N K S

P H O T O G R A P H Y C O N T R I B U T O R S

E D I T O R

D E S I G NA R T D I R E C T I O N

Jacqueline Shaw Meghan Hunter Kendall Gschiel

Copies Plus, Vancouver

Digital Output Center Emily Carr University, Vancouver

Meghan Hunter Kendall Gschiel Janine Merkl

Emanuel Ilagan Jean Chisholm

Jacqueline ShawKendall Gschiel Janine Merkl

Jacqueline Shaw

Jacqueline ShawJacqueline Shaw

SECOND HAND

CREDITS

Second Hand is a publication about thrifting and second hand goods

produced and printed as Jacqueline Shaw’s term project for Print

Publications (COMD-305) at Emily Carr University.

fonts used:

Sabon LT std

UNIVERS LT std 39 thin ultra condensed

“Thrift is not an affair of the pocket, but an affair of character.” —S.W. Straus